Tuesday, February 26, 2008

I am wondering about what I will do while I wait for my screenplay to sell. I love writing. ALL WRITING. It doesn't have to be glamorous or witty or dramatic for me to enjoy writing it.

So the question is this: Is it easier to break in by writing industrial videos? I would love writing that too. How does one go about getting that sort of work?

I don't think it's any easier. It is its own line of work. Most people who shoot industrial videos write their own scripts; there isn't really need or money for a writer. Nor will writing industrials teach you much about narrative fiction.

What you do while waiting for your screenplay to sell is to write ANOTHER screenplay. Keep writing. That way if they sort of like one script, and ask what else you have, you have something else to show them.

7:47 PM

3 Comments:

I'm not disagreeing with you, Alex - but I'll say that writing industrials teaches you to focus on what's important (the client, the product) and to structure your narrative accordingly.

For any industrials I've written it was through a contact at a commercial production company and not sending in a sample.

What industrials and commercials do is pay well for the amount of time expended. It is writing and it is an opportunity to see how your work is interpreted.

If you ALREADY have the contacts to write commercials (prodco, ad agency, local tv station) and you want to earn some EXTRA $ -- then do it.

But Alex is exactly right when he says, write another screenplay or TV script. Build up your library of writing samples.

I've been writing scripts for 'industrials'(preferred term is corporate scriptwriting - industrial sounds greasy) and have been making a living at it since 1985. Payment is upfront (a good thing) and ranges from $2000 to $15000 per script. Many scripts per month - you do the math. I've just recently started a screenplay, but writing non-fiction has been good grounding in communication, writing succinctly, accepting editorial comments and even format. The switch to writing documentaries is seamless.I'm attempting to switch over to find greater challenges.